15 Best Things to Do in Doral (FL)

Considered one of the premier places to live and work in south Florida, Doral has also been voted as one of the best places to start a business, making it a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity.

Like its metropolitan neighbor Miami, it’s located in Miami-Dade County and is conveniently located just a mile from the city’s international airport.

Doral is west of Hialeah and northwest of Miami and Coral Gables on the southeast portion of the state’s Atlantic coast. It is an easy drive from many of Florida’s most popular tourist destinations, including beaches, national parks, and historical sites.

Below are 15 things to do in and around Doral, Florida.

1. M.I.A Beer Company

Located on NW 33rd Street in Doral, M.I.A. Beer Company is a local craft brewery and taproom that has its products distributed in a variety of states and a number of foreign countries.

It says a lot about the quality of their beers considering the fierce competition in the ever-expanding microbrew world.

The philosophy of M.I.A. is sticking to the basics by using traditional recipes and high-quality ingredients. That being said, they also pride themselves on their innovation and use of often overlooked elements, which give many of their beers unique character.

For something especially cutting edge, try their HRD WTR adult beverage with a twist.

2. Doral Central Park

At more than 80 acres, Doral’s Central Park is the city’s largest, and is one of its premier recreation destinations, especially for its 4th of July festivities and annual Food and Wine Festival.

With a pleasant mix of wide-open spaces, treed areas, and a beautiful lake, there’s usually something going on in the park; if there’s not, it’s the perfect place for a relaxing stroll, a picnic, or an afternoon with a thermos full of margaritas and a good book.

The park’s entrance is located on NW 87th Avenue and it’s open every day, with slightly longer hours on the weekends.

3. Chuy’s Tex Mex

Though Chuy’s Tex Mex is part of a national chain that was founded more than 30 years ago in Austin, Texas, their food is decidedly more fresh and vibrant than what you’ll find at most of their competitors.

Located on NW 36th Street in Doral, they’re not known for their fancy digs, but they are popular for their comfortable atmosphere, reasonable prices, and amazing variety of Tex Mex favorites that are the perfect lunch or dinner option for those who’ve expended significant calories exploring the state.

Chuy’s can draw a crowd, so if you’d rather not wait for a table, try stopping by in the mid-afternoon between the lunch and dinner crowds.

4. CityPlace Doral

Boasting its own winery, bakery, gourmet burger restaurant, and martini bar, CityPlace Doral has burst onto the trendy retail scene. Though it’s only been open since late 2017, it has already attracted a loyal following.

A popular place with lovers of happy hour, there is a bowling alley, movie theater, and a variety of restaurant and shopping options to fit most tastes and budgets.

A few of the most popular restaurants include covered outdoor seating, so if it’s not too stifling, they’re perfect places to relax with a friend, a drink, and a tasty appetizer, especially in the twilight time.

5. Pérez Art Museum Miami

Founded in the mid-’80s and known for its collection of contemporary art with several international influences, Pérez Art Museum Miami is located on Biscayne Boulevard and is one of those must-see destinations for lovers of fine art.

If you’re looking for a traditional and stuffy museum full of faded oil paintings from centuries past, you’ll likely be disappointed, but with outdoor garden areas, plenty of covered seating, and facilities designed by a world-famous architectural firm, you may find it’s a pleasant departure from the norm.

The museum hosts a variety of entertainment and activity options in addition to their exhibits, so check out their calendar of events.

6. Morgan Levy Park

Doral’s Morgan Levy Park is an amenity-packed destination located on NW 102nd Avenue close to the downtown area.

Though its hours vary slightly from the week to the weekend, it’s open every day from morning until night and is most well-known for its soccer fields that can draw surprisingly large crowds during the season.

Also featuring a playground, five tennis courts, a few sand volleyball courts, covered gazebos, and a walking trail, finding ways to fill your time won’t be an issue. For those who’ve had their fill of the great outdoors, there’s a community center that offers indoor activities as well.

7. Cubaocho Museum & Performing Arts Center

Featuring an eclectic mix of books and artwork in addition to a full bar and a museum, the Cubaocho Museum and Performing Arts Center is one of those utterly unique Florida destinations that shouldn’t be passed up.

Located on SW 8th Street in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood, it is the local venue of choice for those interested in socializing, taking in a show, and sipping a world-class mojito or two.

For those out of town visitors from the more traditional parts of the country, put everything you think you know about a performing arts center out of your mind.

8. Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

Dating back more than a century, Villa Vizcaya – which is now the centerpiece for the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens – was once the winter retreat of an ultra-wealthy family that made its money in the heavy equipment industry.

The museum and gardens are in Miami’s Coconut Grove neighborhood just a short drive from Doral and are the perfect places to take in the area’s incredible natural beauty while getting a glimpse into the lives of the elite in years past.

The facility offers a variety of program and tour options for groups. Though casual photography is allowed, commercial photography requires special permission.

Wear comfy shoes as the grounds are quite extensive.

9. World Erotic Art Museum

Founded in 2005 and including a vast collection of over 4,000 works of notable erotic art, World Erotic Art Museum may not be the Sunshine State’s most-family friendly attraction, but it’s certainly not what most visitors expect, making it one of those pleasantly surprising places that sticks in most guest’s minds long after they’ve gone.

One of the largest and most complete collections of its kind in the world, in many ways, it is the perfect complement to Miami’s risqué and carefree aura.

The museum is located on Washington Avenue in Miami Beach and is contemporary and trendy – and for most guests, inoffensive and enlightening too.

10. Lock and Load Miami

One visit to Lock and Load Miami and most guests feel like they’re on the set of Scarface or Miami Vice.

Even for timid souls who find firearms intimidating, Lock and Load offers an appropriate package. Regardless of the option you and your travel companions choose, you’ll get a thorough safety orientation by a qualified professional to ensure that you have a mishap-free, exhilarating, and unforgettable experience.

Fully-automatic machine guns are the stars of the show, and handgun options are available as well.

Guests will need to bring a valid ID, and those visiting from overseas will need to provide a valid passport.

11. Bayside Marketplace

Bayside Marketplace, Miami — Bayside Marketplace

In addition to being a marketplace as the name implies, Miami’s Bayside Marketplace is a trendy destination for those looking to immerse themselves in the city’s vibrant culture, rub elbows with some locals, and browse through a variety of unique products that you won’t likely find elsewhere.

The facility is open-air and spread over two stories and is near to other popular area attractions like Bayfront Park and American Airlines Arena.

Many of the marketplace’s restaurants are well-known for their fresh fare and unique settings; they’re the perfect places to fill-up before heading out on a twilight bay cruise.

12. Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science

Established in 1949 and adjacent to the aforementioned Pérez Art Museum, the Philip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science is one of Miami-Dade county’s cultural jewels and is dedicated to enriching the lives of locals and visitors alike.

The facility is part museum, part planetarium, and part aquarium. With so many engaging exhibits, it’s the perfect destination for families traveling with children, especially when the weather outside isn’t particularly pleasant.

The museum is located on Biscayne Boulevard in Miami, and per-visit tickets and seasonal passes are available.

Special deals may be available for those traveling with large groups, so give them a call before you go to make sure you don’t miss out.

13. Taste of Little Havana

For most of its existence, Miami has had a thriving Cuban population; the city’s Little Havana neighborhood is one of the most vibrant enclaves that’s a hot destination for foodies looking to indulge themselves in some of the island nation’s most well-known dishes.

A variety of professionally guided food tours are offered in the area, and it’s possible to do it on your own if you’re the more adventurous kind.

Tour options typically include stops at a few local eateries and a historical narration along the way, but the drawback for many is that they’re not cheap, so check online or ask a local for a recommendation if you’d like to save some green and blaze your own trail.

14. Venetian Pool

Back in 1924, an abandoned coral quarry was converted into an exclusive resort that was named after Venice, Italy.

Though it’s not as exclusive as it once was, Venetian Pool is spread over four acres and holds more than 800,000 gallons of water.

The facility’s Mediterranean-style design is truly unique, and its amenities include children’s areas, waterfalls, caves, and grottos cut into the surrounding rock.

The pool’s water comes from artesian wells and is replenished daily, but don’t expect to find soothing warm waters like you do at hot springs; the water here is decidedly cold and refreshing.

There’s an onsite café as well.

15. South Beach

For fearless travelers who never leave home without their expandable waistband khakis and nylon fanny packs, a trip to Miami’s exclusive South Beach might be the perfect way to see how the attractive, trendy, and hopelessly wealthy live.

South Beach can really draw the crowds, and depending on what you’d like to see and do, a variety of professionally guided tour options are available.

If you’d rather head out on your own, that’s okay too, just remember that it’s an expensive area and that parking can be a pain in the neck.

There are still food, drink and activity deals to be had, and it’s often possible to find coupons online and in travel magazines and brochures in hotel and restaurant lobbies, so check them out.